An Australian Republic is but a single step - yet an utterly important step - on the Australian peoples path to transcendence. Unfortunately federation in 1901 was handled poorly and Australia was left over a century behind the times, with a static constitution, devoid of the innovations of the enlightenment, that had found their way into the constitution of the US Republic. Australia must catch up to the enlightenment for the political freedom of its people. Despite this very necessary step to a Republic: it must not be seen as a means to impose static rule on the country. Republicanism is just one step in the devolving decentralisation of power until the polity is the people and full authority for the state lies entirely in the peoples hands.

Inevitable

Whatever empathy Australians had with the notion of Australian Britishness, is largely gone in the younger generations and the new Australians. The indigenous Australian, the new Australians and the Australian Australians have no truck with the relic of the monarchy, nor the heraldic crumbs of colonial Australia. To all but the Anglo-Australians, a Republic is inevitable - as is the removal of the Union Jack from the Australian flag.

One impulse of this inevitability that must be tempered, is the view that a Republic represents the epitome of constitutional government. Since 1776, the limitations of a representative system with embedded explicit political rights, have been shown - especially this century with increased sophistication of politicking, the political use of media and the ever-present human failure in their desire for absolute power.

This does not mean that the Republic has no value, merely, that some of its worst limitations have been exposed. But in comparison to the constitutional monarchy, it is a far tighter system, with greater separation of powers and explicit recognition of individuals rights. A Republic is the next evolutionary step in government beyond a constitutional monarchy - hence its inevitability.

Malleable

Another impulse to guard against is the enshrining a static constitution as the "bearded men" did in 1901. Plus avoiding one that carries the prejudices of the day, that covets all decisions outside of public debate, that is without public accountability, and is devoid of the protections for individuals and minorities that are so necessary in a constitutional system.

The people that government draws its power and legitimacy from are a diverse and dynamic group that changes increasingly with each generation; culturally, socially and economically. This reality must be reflected in the Constitution as well as the ability for each generation to advance, not retard, the republican form of government into their image.

One of the greatest arguments against the "no change" Australians, and those that would excuse the constitutional monarchical system of Australia as a republic in all but name is the lack of explicit protections for individual and minority freedoms in the Constitution. It is essential in any post-enlightenment system of government to contain a constitutional bill of rights.

Yet the static nature of the Australian system and the special interest aspect of the representative system have meant Australia has not had these protections against government tyranny despite government action in Australia offering many instances since 1901 when these limitations on arbitrary government action were absolutely necessary.

Public

The ongoing specialisation of representatives in parliament, along with ongoing encumbancy and government management of the media has shrunk the public space in which government and people interact to determine policy. The trends in the last twenty years have set an example of the failure of the representative system as it succumbs to special interests, faction and a usurpary executive power without public accountability.

The representatives and factions have managed to pollute the language of debate - with the support of the media - that the people have been cornered into choosing their representatives based on negative values such as celebrity, admiration, fear or nationalism. This represent a devaluing of public debate and a consequent disconnect and alienation of the people from making and participating in policy or the direction of the polity.

A common phrase uttered in Australia is, " When the government changes, the country changes ". This is a reflection to the level through which faction and government deconstruct the dialogue between government and people into meaningless soundbites and the avoidance of substantial policy. This is the special interests of faction working to their own minority interests, and not necessarily the peoples, through the power and legitimacy of government.

The challenge for an Australian Republic will be to ensure this entropy toward specialisation and secrecy of government is halted through an open system - one that is constantly accountable to the public. The Republican government must also be perpetually inclusive and indiscriminately participatory with the people it draws it legitimacy, and hence power from. Anything less is not republicanism.

Future

The Australian Republic is overdue in this country but does not represent the epitome of political governance - it is a very necessary - but incremental step on Australia's evolutionary path toward political transcendence, where power is devolved directly into those that it draws its legitimacy from. The pen of Dan Deniehy wrote a hundred and fifty years ago;

Today in Australia every man acts not only for himself but as a trustee for posterity. The poorest man in Goulburn can by negligence or indifference possibly affect the rights and the benefits in this undeveloped community of worth and industry and enterprise, nay it may be of coming genius.

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